BALER, Aurora, Philippines — Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro underscored the strong bond between the Philippines and Spain during the celebration of the 9th Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day, which coincides with the 112th commemoration of the Siege of Baler, here, Thursday.

Saying that “life is not black or white, but in fact black and white,” Luistro likened the heroism, valor and bravery displayed by both Filipino “Katipuneros” and the Spanish soldiers during the Spanish era, to the younger generation for their willingness to struggle in the most difficult of circumstances to get a good education.

Addressing members of the academe, Luistro urged the teachers to allow students to see in their own eyes heroes before them, adding that “because in you (the youth) is the hope of the DepEd and of our country.”

Recognizing the heroism depicted by then Filipino guerrillas against the Spanish soldiers in 1898 in the historic “Siege of Baler” where 54 Spanish soldiers displaying patriotism to their country, holed up for 11 months inside Baler Church until their surrender to Filipino rebels in 1899.

Luistro said that Filipinos still continue to fight for their rights and struggle to win their dignity as shown in students who brave mountain treks, rivers, rain, floods and landslides just to travel on foot from their houses to their schools in this province.

Luistro assured all teachers of continued support in bringing reform to the DepEd.

Other officials, diplomats and special guests in the celebration were Senator Edgardo Angara, Ambassadors Jorge Domecq; Spain, Manuel Perez Iturbe; Venezuela, Roberto Mayorga Lorca; Chile, Malayvieng Sakonhninhom; Laos, Xenia Steganidou; Greece, Prasas Prasasvinitchal; Thailand, Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, National Historical Institute chair Ludovico Badoy, Mayor Arthur Angara and National Museum director Jeremy Barns and other foreign dignitaries.